Now he really wished they were talking about Magnús’s school issues. He dropped his eyes to the floor, looked into the swirls of the blue and red patterned rug.
‘Look at me,strákurinn minn.’
My boy. Gunnar raised his eyes to meet hers.
‘If you do not take the chance, you will never know again all the joy that courtship brings. The highest of highs, when just thinking about that person makes the widest smile on your face. When being near them makes your stomach churn and your nerve-endings feel like they are on fire with passion.’
‘Hildur—’
‘Gunnar, listen to someone who knows, someone who took some of her chances yet is still regretful of those she did not take that could have given her life more laughter, more light.’ She reached out and took hold of his arm, squeezing it between her fingers. ‘That is the one wonderful thing about the heart, you know. No matter how many times it breaks. With time, it will always, always mend.’
He let the undeniable truth of Hildur’s statements sink in. She was right.
‘Now, take a shower and choose something nice to wear. I know it is cold but I sense that dressing like you are a yeti is not going to get you anywhere with Chloe.’
Gunnar smiled and enveloped Hildur in a firm hug before she could think about pushing him away… which she quickly did.
‘Stop with that nonsense. Always near Christmas everyone thinks they must touch each other all the time.’ She shook her head but Gunnar could hear the warmth wrapped around her words. ‘Save these actions for Chloe.’
‘Hildur,’ Gunnar said, retreating for the bathroom. ‘It is our first time going out together.’
‘And she is not here for long,’ Hildur reminded him. ‘Do not waste a moment.’
With that advice ringing in his ears, Gunnar nodded and headed for the shower.
36
CENTRE OF REYKJAVIK
Chloe was pacing up and down outside the five-star hotel wondering if she was cold from the steep drop in temperature since she had arrived on the island or if it was down to sheer nerves. The woman she was meeting was going to be here in thirty minutes and Gunnar was supposed to be here already so they could talk through her non-speaking backstory and work out how he could run the meeting without her having to talk in any language at all. All this because she needed to cover up a stupid lie, one she didn’t think she’d have to worry about ever again. Was it worth it? Should she come clean now? Or was she too far gone, Kat in her corner, Gunnar on board with the ruse, her partnership possibilities nearly in reach? Before she could think any more she saw Gunnar walking towards her down the icy pavement. And there was that feeling again. That feeling that acknowledged the sheer hot masculinity of the man, his perfectly proportioned stature, his fine jawline, those stunning eyes… Chloe swallowed. She hadn’t actually felt this ‘lust queasy’ for… well, she couldn’t quite remember another time.
‘Hello,krúttiomitt. I am sorry I am late. There was a puffin on my truck.’
Why that had sounded like something sexual to her she didn’t know, but it had. And she needed to answer and not look at his lips…
‘It’s OK.’
‘It is not OK,’ Gunnar said. ‘It had left shit all over the windscreen.’
Chloe laughed and it felt like a release of so much more. ‘That’s funny.’
‘Oh, you think this is funny! This is good,’ Gunnar said, smiling. ‘Because after I have spoken Icelandic for you, you can help me clean it off before we go to see the dogs.’
‘Eww no,’ Chloe said straight away.
‘And if I make it a condition of me helping you now?’ he asked, eyebrow raising.
‘Ah, Gunnar, that is the thing with negotiations, once the deal has been agreed there is no more re-aligning the contract. You said you would help me and now you want to add conditions?’
He took a step closer, eyes locked on hers. ‘This seems very harsh. No amendments? No time to reconsider? I might have to insist on a cooling off period.’
Cooling off didn’t seem to be an option for Chloe with those bright blue glacier-like eyes fixed on hers. It was intense. It was hot.
‘I don’t think you’ve paid enough attention to all the clauses. The fine details.’
‘No?’ he queried, tone pure devilment. ‘Then tell me, what did I overlook?’
Chloe’s heart was beating in her ears now and it wasn’t the nervous energy of knowing she was going to have to lie her way out of a situation in no time at all, it was Gunnar making her feel a certain way on an icy moonlit street that was becoming hotter by the second.
